Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Economic Potential of Wetland Habitats in Europe Yvonne Scheidegger Uwe A. Schneider

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Tragedy of Wetlands

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Find socially optimal balance between alternative wetland uses by integrating biological benefits (birds) economic opportunities (agriculture) - Large region - Majority of endangered birds Objective

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Birds Bird directive 1979 Annex I Species 28 species depending on wetlands as breeding/ wintering/ resting grounds Families: herons, raptors, storks Corncrake Kingfisher Great White EgretBlack Stork

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Wetland Degradation Human exploitation Agriculture - Drainage Human Settlements - Preferred location for living - Transportation systems - Industry - Pollution

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Preservation Habitat for Species Ecological Functions - Flood control - Shoreline stabilization - Nutrient retention - Purification of water - Climate Wetland Preservation

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Ramsar Convention 1971 Ramsar, Iran Conservation and wise use of wetlands Ramsar List contracting parties wetlands of international importance CLASSIFICATION MARINE WETLANDS ESTUARINE WETLANDS WETLANDS ASSOCIATED WITH LAKES WETLANDS ALONG RIVERS MARSHY WETLANDS HUMAN-MADE WETLANDS

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Wetlands Lake/Pond Open water surface Transition zone Marsh Frequent flooding/permanent shallow water Reed beds

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Wetlands Wet Meadow Humid soils Grassland Extensive cultivation Peatland Anaerobic conditions fen raised bog

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Wetlands River/Floodplain Periodic flooding Sand and gravel banks, oxbow lakes Floodplain forest Typical vegetation

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Model Variables POP r,b,l,w Bird population [N] ADD r,w Added area [ha] DEL r,w Lost area [ha] HAB 0 r,b,l,w Habitat size < minimum habitat size [ha] HAB 1 r,b,l,w Habitat size > minimum habitat size [ha] r Region w Wetland l living status b Bird

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change h min 0 area population HAB 0 HAB 1 n safe Model

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Model Parameter d r,b,l,w Population density n safe b,l Safe population level h min r,b,l,w Minimum habitat size [ha] h max r,w Maximum convertible area [ha] h exist r,w Existing land allocation [ha] c ag r Agricultural opportunity costs [euro] c ag  w r Conversion costs [euro/ha] r Region w Wetland l living status b Bird

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Model Wetland Habitat Demand

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Model Wetland Habitat Supply

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Model Objective Function Minimization of cost from land use and lost agricultural revenue summed across all regions and land use change type

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Solve repeatedly for different targets (t) Plot total cost against target Model Economic Potential of Wetland Habitats

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change Indicative Results

Research Unit Sustainability and Global Change

Future Tasks Data improvement! Soil type integration Modeling of combined uses (low agricultural intensity + habitat) Habitat linking between regions Endogenous agricultural opportunity costs Dynamics